Chapter 2: Train Ride and Memories

A/N

Hello! I'm actually following the manga this time, oh my. I got a little carried away last chapter, ahaha... But before we hitch right into the chapter, there's a little side-note of where Melissa ended last chapter before we head in!

Also: yes, I read the review that was posted! Thank you to who posted the review, it honestly made my day! I'm glad you enjoy Melissa's character, as there is much to uncover this chapter 😉

Thanks as always, and I'll let everyone start reading!

alinalee

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is not owned by me, but by Hiromi Arakawa. I only own my OC!

... "Hughes? Are you by chance related to Lieutenant Colonel Hughes?" Alphonse asked, looking at the brunette with curiosity in his tone.

Ed was surprised when she didn't look twice that a suit of armor- er, his younger brother – asked her a question. Interesting, indeed.

The girl smiled. "Yes, I am, actually." Oh. So that's why her last name sounded familiar. The teen he was talking to knew Central military as if they were old friends – and on top of that, it'd make perfect sense she'd be related to Lieutenant Colonel Hughes in a way...

Except they really didn't look identical.

The smiling teen looked over at Armstrong. "To answer your question, Armstrong – I'm traveling to East City for assigned business." Assigned business? Is she a state alchemist too? But if she's heading to East City, where we literally just came from...

Ed checked his watch and frowned. "If you're going to the East City train, you'd better hurry. It just arrived."

The girl looked extremely grateful for a minute there, checking her watch too to see if he was right. He was.

Though, to Ed's surprise, she didn't have a silver watch either. Which meant she was a relative of Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, but she wasn't a state alchemist. Hm. Interesting.

Much to Ed's surprise though, the Hughes girl smiled at him. "I- oh. Oh my! Thank you so much."

She turned to Armstrong then, a rather abashed look on her face. So she felt bad. "Nice talking to you again, Major Armstrong, but as your alchemist friend here said – I should really catch my train."

Hold on- how did she know I was an alchemist? I don't have any transmutation circles on hand, and she isn't a state alchemist, either... so she must be extremely observant. Ed had gotten lost in his thoughts again, so he really didn't hear the major respond to the girl.

He also didn't hear the teenager that had piqued his interest so much leave for her train in a hurry, either. Oh. Oh well.

What he did hear, was Alphonse, "Hey, brother," who snapped him out of his rapid thinking.

Ed jumped. "Yeah, Al?"

"You looked interested in that girl just now, brother," Alphonse said, teasing.

"I- WHAT? NO I DIDN'T!" a defensive – and rather flustered Ed response, on point as always.

Armstrong just laughed at their bickering as the group approached the car. "Don't we have to go to the library, Elric boys?"

"I- oh, that's right," Alphonse responded meekly.

"You forgot? Jeez, Al, what a pushover." Ed grinned playfully while Sergeant Brosh and Second Lieutenant Ross shook their heads.

"He had totally forgotten about the library, too..."

"Last call for East City! I repeat, last call!" the station master called outside Melissa's car, announcing the final calls for the East City train she had almost been late for, again.

Thank you, alchemist boy. Thank you. she smiled to herself, as the station master was checking another passenger's ticket.

"Miss Edith, you are in compartment C, seat 13," the station master spoke to the woman, who gave him a flirty smile in return. Well, there goes the station master, Melissa sweatdropped.

Much to Melissa's ignorance, Edith sat down beside the teen with a bright smile.

"Hello, miss-" the stranger greeted the alchemist with a dazzling smile, her eyes alight.

"Oh! I'm Melissa, nice to meet you Miss-"

"Edith, Miss Melissa," Edith responded, her dark eyes taunting. "It's nice to meet you as well."

Edith, Melissa noted, was stunning.

Long, wavy black hair that went halfway down her back, black eyes alight with amusement and... ew, was that lust she saw too?

The only thing Melissa noted that was odd about the woman she sat next to, was the really weird tattoo she had right smack dab in the center of her collarbone.

Interesting place to get a tattoo, for sure...

But besides, that, they could be friends.

"So, Edith," Melissa inquired, drawing the black-haired woman's attention. "you wouldn't mind if I slept during this trip, would you?"

The woman laughed. What a daunting laugh, she noted oddly. "No, not at all! I'm not expecting you to stay up for the whole train ride, after all."

Thank God. "Much appreciated, Edith! I know some people don't approve of their person they're sitting next to fall asleep, so- I'll do just that, then."

The woman smiled and pulled out a newspaper, reading it as she answered. "Sounds good to me. Sleep well, hon."

"Thanks!" Melissa replied, a small smile on her face as she adjusted herself for a nap.

It wasn't too long until the teenage alchemist fell asleep, into dreams she'd rather forget.

A burst of blue, alchemical energy alit the room Melissa was in. All she could see was white, but just before she lost consciousness, a voice shouted.

"Thank you, daughter, for finally achieving human transmutation!"

All Melissa could see was white, white on the floor, the walls – it seemed as if the room was exponentially never-ending.

Definitely not the room she was just in. Oh, and – that person wasn't there before, either.

Melissa blinked her eyes. Once, twice, to regain her surroundings. Finally realizing, that, yes, that white-person-thingy was still there. This wasn't right - it wasn't right at all.

"W-who are you?" she croaked; her voice dry.

The thing, being—smiled. A creepy, chilling, smile. "Now, that's a good question. Who am I?"

The thing paused. Dramatic effect, realization, whatever; and continued.

"I am many things. One name you might have for me is The World, or you might just call me The Universe, or perhaps God. Or perhaps the Truth. I am all and I am one, so of course this means I am also you."

"I- you're- why am I here, then, 'God'?" she said, startled. "I- I didn't want to meet you, you God-Truth-me thing!"

"Oh?" the being – okay, it was smiling way too much, now – cocked its head. "Now, all beings are sent here who committed the ultimate taboo. Human transmutation."

Melissa could remember.

Her father – crazy, violent, desperate.

Her mother – gone, gone, dead – as black hands slowly started grasping her, pulling her – into the large, massive grey door she stood behind.

Oh. So that's why she's here.

"But," the thing smiled wider, as if that was even possible. "you committed human transmutation on a being that was still alive."

Melissa went pale as the hands released her.

No, no - her mother was dead. It was a car accident, that was what she was told-

She really didn't want to think about that right now. Whatever she had seen – the Truth, whatever it was, was daunting. Scary. Something she never wanted to see, never wanted to know...

"So, what's your toll?" it thought out loud, pondering.

"I've never had a human being commit human transmutation on someone who's still alive – now, of course, I've met people who, like you, committed human transmutation unwillingly, but..."

"But I don't deserve a toll," she interrupted, eyes wide with fear and realization. "or at least, not one now."

"Oh? And why not?" It cocked its head again, but this time, she realized, it was deeming her existence.

"You're only one human who committed human transmutation on a live being. Why should you not deserve a toll, when you've seen the Truth?"

"I never wanted this. I never wanted any of it." she replied, slowly getting her bearings. "So, 'God', what do you say we make a deal?"

'God' grinned, as its face became darkly alight with amusement. "A deal with a human, huh? So be it, human, you have a deal. I'll see you soon, Melissa-"

"!" Melissa woke up, her face deathly pale, her heart – her heart went into overdrive. No, no – that memory was one buried, one she didn't want to see ever again -

"Honey?" Edith turned to the girl, her newspaper crocked down so they could meet eye contact. "Everything okay? We're about 2 minutes from the East City stop."

"I- yeah," the teen stammered out finally, her eyes springing tears. "I just need a minute, that's all."

And she did. She took a minute, wiped her tears away, and breathed. Smiling gently, she looked back up at Edith, who was watching her with concern, still mixed with amusement.

"I'm fine Edith, thank you for-"

HHHHHHHHHHHHRK!

"East City stop! Will all passengers please get off in an orderly fashion. Thank you for riding today," the intercoms blasted the station master, who spoke tiredly.

Oh. It was over. Hopping off the train, Edith behind her, Melissa went to retrieve her luggage – only to see a tall man had already had them in his hands, waiting patiently for her.

"I- thanks for grabbing my luggage, Roy," she answered honestly.

"It was no problem," he replied.

"Actually, he did mind," spoke Lieutenant Hawkeye, who was right next to him as always. "I was the one who suggested he grabbed your luggage. He disagreed."

"And look where we are now," Melissa lightly smiled, no, I can't fully smile just yet. "you threatened him, didn't you, Riza?"

"I might have, who knows?" was the soldier's reply as the three walked outside of East City's train station. "But, we have urgent work for you to do. Do you mind?"

"Nah, I don't mind," the girl shook her head. "I took a nap on the train ride, anyway."

And chapter 2 ends! Oooooooooo!

Let me know what you all think! I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Love,

alinalee